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Gemspring Capital Acquires Bradford

WESTPORT, CT – July 12, 2023 – Gemspring Capital Management, LLC (“Gemspring”), a middle-market private equity firm, is pleased to announce that an affiliate has acquired Bradford Soap International, Inc. (“Bradford” or the “Company”), a leading developer, formulator, and manufacturer of beauty & personal care products. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Michael D'Amico Joins Bradford as Chief Financial Officer

WEST WARWICK, RI (October 13, 2022) – Bradford Soap Works is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael D’Amico as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Michael has over 30 years of corporate finance experience developing and executing innovative cost containment and revenue growth strategies. His career includes many years in the manufacturing sector, where he facilitated union negotiations and focused on capital allocation, operating skills, and long-term value creation.

Stu Benton Receives PBN Leaders & Achievers Award

We are thrilled to announce that our President and CEO, Stuart R Benton, CPA, CGMA, was named a PBN Leaders & Achievers Award Honoree. This award recognizes Rhode Island professionals for their leadership, achievements, mentorship, and more. Stu had the opportunity to receive his award at PBN’s award ceremony at Aldrich Mansion in Warwick, RI, on August 18th. Congratulations, Stu!

Bradford is Named ICIS Award Finalist

Bradford is proud to announce we have been selected by the ICIS Surfactant Awards as a finalist in the category of Sustanability. Winners will be announced at the 12th ICIS World Surfactants Conference & Awards on May 10th, in Jersey City, NJ. 

Doing Good is Good Business with Stuart Benton

Jose Palomino for Value Prop When it comes to your brand, virtue and growth aren't mutually exclusive. Especially when you know how to rally loyalty from like-minded customers. Our guest today is Stuart Benton, President, and CEO of Bradford Soap Works. Bradford is a leader in solid personal care products, operating through B2B channels.

Bradford Wins INNOCOS Blue Beauty Award

Bradford Soap Works wins the Blue Beauty Award for their philanthropy work, partnering with three organizations to donate soap base to improve hygiene, which saves lives and increases earning ability in impoverished regions. Bradford has single-handedly funded the World Vision soap program in Zambia since 2012, has contributed to the Eco-Soap Bank in Southeast Asia since 2020 and began donating soap to Hope & Comfort in the United States in 2021. We appreciated that Bradford also considered the success rate of getting their soap base into countries where products like soap can be confiscated at the border.

Stronger, eager to grow

John A. Lahtinen for Providence Business News The flexibility required of Rhode Island manufacturers to stay open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has made many of them stronger, says Kathie Mahoney, center director at Polaris MEP, the state’s manufacturing extension partnership. “No one was prepared for what happened [in March 2020],” she said. But manufacturers “proved their resiliency.” Whether it was pivoting to produce much-needed personal protective equipment or offering flexibility to their employees to work from home or take advantage of more-flexible shifts, manufacturers have adapted to meet the needs of both their customers and their employees.

Bradford attends Amenity Aid ribbon-cutting and the grand opening of their new head office

On the evening of Thursday, August 26, Amenity Aid held a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of their very first office. After eight years of relying solely on volunteers and their storage facility for the distribution of donations, the non-profit was thrilled to officially open a home office in Warwick, Rhode Island.

CEO’s small-change approach has big impact at Bradford Soap

By John A. Lahtinen for Providence Business News A bar of soap has taken on a whole new importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The impact a bar of soap can have on a life is significant,” said Stuart Benton, Bradford Soap Works Inc.’s CEO and president since 2016. “This impact has never been more apparent than during this year of COVID.

Sustainability key part of soap maker’s formula

By John A. Lahtinen for Providence Business News Sustainability is at the very heart of Bradford Soap Works Inc.’s strategic planning. The West Warwick-based company has been creating and promoting sustainable formulations for more than 140 years since its founding in 1876.

Bradford on the Shortlist for ICIS Sustainability Award

Bradford is proud to be named as a finalist at the World Surfactant Awards hosted by ICIS. The award recognizes an organization that excels in the area of sustainability. The winner will be announced on May 25th at a virtual ceremony. 

PBN names Bradford Winner of Green Manufacturing Award and Honors Stuart Benton

Bradford is extremely honored to receive two PBN Manufacturing Awards. The first recognizes Bradford for excellence in Green Manufacturing and the second recognizes our President and CEO, Stuart Benton, inm the Strategic Leadership category.

Rhode Island's Recipe for Success

Crain's - The Ocean State’s mix of innovation and entrepreneurship helps new and established businesses thrive. It’s no secret that Rhode Island has long been fertile ground for small businesses to succeed. It’s advantageously located between Boston and New York and boasts a high quality of life that attracts and helps retain top talent. The state is home to 11 colleges and universities, including Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Rhode Island, which provide a pipeline for employees.

AgroAmerica Receives Class A Certification

Bradford's palm oil supplier receives highest recognition from The Rainforest Alliance. In 2010, AgroAmerica became the first oil palm company in the world to obtain the Rainforest Alliance certification. Recently, AgroAmerica also became the first palm oil company in the world to receive the “Level A” certification of the “Rainforest Alliance Certified” Program and the second in the world in all company categories.

Rainforest Alliance Celebrates Conservation Leadership Through Innovative Partnerships

New York, NY (May 9, 2018) - In its 31st year, the Rainforest Alliance celebrates the organizations, companies, farmers, foresters and individuals who are working hard to make sustainability the new norm.

Bradford Announces Executive Staff Appointments

Providence Business News - Bradford Soap Works is pleased to announce three new appointments to its leadership group - Linda Barrett, Michael Krause and Bert Reigstad

Stuart R. Benton Of Bradford Soap Works Named Winner of Boston Business Journal's CFO of the Year

Press Release – Bradford Soap Works, the Rhode Island manufacturer of personal care products, is proud to announce that Stuart R. Benton, President & CEO, is the winner of the 2016 Boston Business Journal’s CFO of the Year Award in the large private company category.

Bradford Executes Strategic Leadership Transition

Press Release - Bradford Soap Works, the Rhode Island-based leader in personal care manufacturing for over a century, is undergoing a strategic leadership transition that is positioning the company for pivotal growth.

Bradford Announces Executive Staff Appointments

Press Release - Bradford Soap Works is pleased to announce three new appointments to its leadership group:

New Leadership at West Warwick's Bradford Soap Works Eyeing Growth

Providence Journal by Lilli Paknis - WEST WARWICK, R.I. — Stuart R. Benton has been named president and chief executive officer at Bradford Soap Works as the company changes leaders to plan future growth of the 140 year-old company, Bradford announced Tuesday.

Benton Takes the Reins at Bradford Soap Works, Howland Becomes Chairman

Providence Business News by Lori Stabile - WEST WARWICK – There’s been a change in leadership at the 140-year-old Bradford Soap Works.

John Howland has moved into the position of executive chairman, while Stuart R. Benton has taken over as the new president and CEO of Bradford and its operating subsidiaries. The change went into effect last month, according to a news release.

Bradford Announces Executive Staff Appointments

RISBJ by RISBJ Staff - WEST WARWICK, RI –  Bradford Soap Works (www.bradfordsoap.com) is pleased to announce three new appointments to its leadership group:

Bradford Executes Strategic Leadership Transition

RISBJ by RISBJ Staff - WEST WARWICK, RI – Bradford Soap Works (www.bradfordsoap.com), the Rhode Island-based leader in personal care manufacturing for over a century, is undergoing a strategic leadership transition that is positioning the company for pivotal growth.

Bradford Trains Talented Designers on Personal Care Manufacturing

Providence Business News by Patricia Daddona - It's not often that a manager for a manufacturer of soap and similar products stands in front of a group of designers explaining the intricacies of personal-care regulations. And yet, that is exactly what Chris Buckley was doing in January.

See How Bradford Makes Soap

The Providence Journal by Tom Murphy - Not many businesses survive for 139 years. The Bradford Soap Works in West Warwick is one of the few.

How It's Made - Bar Soap

The Discovery Channel featured Bradford in their "How it's Made" show. Bradford was selected to represent the soap industry because we do more things on our Rhode Island campus than any other soap manufacturer.